Can you have kimchi on Animal based? The definitive guide.

November 13, 2025 •

3 min read

Traditional kimchi often includes fish sauce or shrimp paste, ingredients that are not compatible with a strict animal-based diet. However, some adherents of a more flexible "animal-based" or modified carnivore approach do incorporate fermented foods like kimchi for their gut health benefits. This guide will explore whether you can have kimchi on Animal based, focusing on the necessary modifications.

Quick Summary

This article explains how to enjoy kimchi on an animal-based diet by navigating ingredient restrictions. It details the differences between strict carnivore and more flexible animal-based plans, and provides instructions for creating or finding compliant versions. Discover how to leverage probiotics for gut health while adhering to your dietary principles.

Key Points

Traditional kimchi is not compliant: Most standard kimchi recipes contain fish sauce or shrimp paste, which are not permitted on a strict animal-based diet.
Vegan versions can be made compliant: By replacing seafood products with compliant alternatives like kombu broth and ensuring minimal or compliant plant ingredients, kimchi can be adapted.
Animal-based differs from carnivore: The animal-based diet allows for some flexibility with certain plant-based foods, unlike the zero-plant carnivore diet.
Probiotics are a key motivation: Many followers incorporate fermented foods for their gut health benefits and the probiotics they provide.
DIY ensures compliance: Making kimchi at home is the most reliable way to control every ingredient and ensure it aligns with your specific dietary rules.
Start slow with fermented foods: When reintroducing fermented foods, start with small amounts (e.g., 1 teaspoon) to allow your gut to adjust to the new probiotics.

What is the Animal-Based Diet?

Often mistaken for the strict carnivore diet, the animal-based diet is a more flexible nutritional framework championed by figures like Paul Saladino. While the foundation of the diet consists of nutrient-dense animal products—including meat, organs, and fats—it also allows for the inclusion of select, low-fructose plant foods. This more nuanced approach stands in stark contrast to the zero-plant-food philosophy of a true carnivore diet. The primary goal is to maximize nutrient density from animal sources while avoiding potentially toxic or less bioavailable plant compounds.

Core Components of an Animal-Based Diet

Animal Products: Grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, organ meats (especially liver), eggs, and high-quality fats like tallow and lard form the dietary cornerstone.
Low-Toxin Plants: Certain plant foods are cautiously included. These often consist of low-fructose fruits, honey, and some easily digested vegetables like squash.
Fermented Foods: Unlike the zero-plant carnivore diet, some variations of the animal-based diet make a deliberate exception for fermented foods, such as sauerkraut or kimchi, for their probiotic properties.

The Compliance Challenge of Traditional Kimchi

Traditional kimchi is a Korean staple made from fermented vegetables, most commonly napa cabbage, and a flavorful seasoning paste. Key non-compliant ingredients in standard kimchi recipes include fish sauce, shrimp paste, and sometimes vegetable broths or excessive sugars. For these reasons, most store-bought kimchi is not suitable for an animal-based lifestyle, but a modified version can be created.

How to Enjoy Compliant Kimchi on an Animal-Based Diet

The key to a compliant kimchi is replacing non-animal-based ingredients while preserving the fermentation process and its beneficial probiotics. You can find suitable store-bought options by looking for "vegan kimchi" and carefully checking the ingredient list to ensure no non-compliant items like soy sauce are present.

Alternatively, making your own compliant kimchi at home allows full control. Adapt a simple recipe by skipping fish sauce and shrimp paste. Use minced garlic, ginger, and Korean chili flakes (gochugaru) mixed with water or bone broth for the paste. Salt and wilt napa cabbage, then combine with the paste and pack into a jar to ferment at room temperature or in the refrigerator. A small amount of grated apple or pear can be added for natural sweetness, aligning with the allowance for low-fructose fruits.

Benefits of Including Fermented Foods

Including compliant fermented foods like kimchi can support gut health within an animal-based diet. Probiotics aid digestion, improve nutrient absorption, and may help reduce inflammation. These live cultures contribute to a more diverse and balanced gut flora.

Comparison: Traditional Kimchi vs. Animal-Based Kimchi


Feature	Traditional Kimchi	Animal-Based Kimchi
Primary Ingredients	Napa cabbage, radish, garlic, ginger, onions, scallions, gochugaru	Napa cabbage, radish, garlic, ginger, compliant sweetener (apple), gochugaru
Flavor Base	Fish sauce, fermented shrimp, kelp broth, rice porridge	Bone broth, salt, fruit for sweetness
Probiotic Source	Lactic acid bacteria from vegetables and fermentation	Lactic acid bacteria from vegetables and fermentation
Dietary Compliance	Not compliant due to fish sauce, shrimp paste, and sometimes added sugars	Compliant, assuming no non-animal-based additives like miso or non-compliant vegetables

Is Kimchi a Viable Probiotic Source on Animal-Based?

For strict carnivores, no plant matter is allowed. However, for those on a more flexible animal-based plan who include select plants for benefits, a compliant kimchi is a viable addition. The probiotic advantages for gut health are well-documented, and a carefully sourced or prepared product can fit the diet's principles. Including fermented vegetable matter for health benefits is a key distinction from stricter carnivore diets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having kimchi on an animal-based diet is possible by choosing or creating versions without non-compliant ingredients like fish sauce or shrimp paste. Modified, vegan-friendly options allow individuals following a flexible animal-based approach to enjoy the probiotic benefits and flavor of kimchi while adhering to their dietary framework. Embrace the diet's flexibility to incorporate gut-health-supporting fermented foods that align with your personal goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all kimchi is off-limits. Traditional kimchi, which contains fish sauce or shrimp paste, is not compliant. However, vegan versions or homemade kimchi can be modified to fit the dietary principles by replacing non-compliant ingredients.

The core difference lies in flexibility. The strict carnivore diet excludes all plant-based foods, including kimchi. The animal-based diet, on the other hand, allows for limited, low-toxin plant foods and often makes an exception for fermented foods like compliant kimchi for their probiotic benefits.

You can seek out explicitly labeled "vegan" kimchi and carefully check the ingredients list. Look for versions that use miso paste, kombu broth, or other non-seafood-based flavorings. For complete control, making your own at home is the best method.

For those on the more flexible animal-based diet, the fermentation process is seen as beneficial because it provides probiotics for gut health. The presence of fermented plant matter is tolerated for this specific benefit, although purists on a strict carnivore diet would still avoid it entirely.

Yes, on an animal-based diet, honey is generally considered an acceptable sweetener. You can use a small amount of honey to balance the flavors in your homemade kimchi paste instead of traditional sugar.

If you are strictly avoiding all plant matter, fermented animal products are the best alternative. Fermented dairy, like raw kefir or yogurt (if tolerated), or aged cheeses are viable options for probiotics.

Yes, research indicates that fermented foods like kimchi are rich in probiotics, which support a healthy gut microbiome. For those who follow a modified animal-based diet, these probiotics are a primary reason for including it, helping to improve digestion and reduce inflammation.